In summary

  • Swinburne University of Technology has recognised 27 exceptional educators in its 2025 School Teaching Excellence Awards
  • Recipients were awarded for their excellence in assessment design and teaching strategies, industry-engaged curricula and distinctive learning experiences
  • Among the innovative approaches recognised were industry-engaged curriculum design, innovative work integrated learning opportunities and team-teaching

Swinburne has announced the 2025 recipients of its annual School Teaching Excellence Awards.

This year, 27 educators have been awarded for their excellence in delivering innovative assessment design and teaching strategies, building industry-engaged curricula, and enhancing student engagement through unique and authentic learning experiences.

Launched in 2020, Swinburne‘s annual School Teaching Excellence Awards celebrate the exceptional educators who empower students with the knowledge, skills and experience to be industry-ready. 

Submissions are judged by a panel from each of Swinburne’s six higher education schools.

“At Swinburne, our educators are innovating the future of learning. Their expertise delivers unique learning experiences for our students, incorporating cutting-edge tech and curriculum that’s co-designed with students and industry," says Professor Llew Mann, Pro Vice-Chancellor Educational Innovation.

“Congratulations to our outstanding educators for their dedication to educational innovation and student success.”

School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship

Dr Carleigh Yeomans is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Carleigh Yeomans, Lecturer in Sport Management, has been recognised for an innovative assessment design that enhances student engagement, digital literacy and industry readiness in sport marketing education.

By combining experiential learning, authentic assessment and digital literacy, she has equipped her students with highly applied, creative and technically rich learning experiences that reflect real-world skill demands.

Dr Mitchell Adams is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Mitchell Adams, Senior Lecturer at Swinburne Law School, has been awarded for the design and creation of integrated learning experiences that transform students’ digital literacy and enable them as future lawyers to lead legal innovation.

His innovative pedagogical framework is bridging the gap between traditional legal education and industry needs, resulting in an increase in student enrolments.

Dr John Webster is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award Commendation.

Dr John Webster, Senior Lecturer in Accounting, and teaching sessional Alan Serry have been recognised for transforming student engagement in first-year accounting through a dialogic co-teaching model that integrates structured multimedia design, real-world relevance and pedagogically informed video delivery.

Guided by student feedback, cognitive load theory and multimedia learning principles, this redesigned pedagogy has enhanced student motivation, deepened comprehension, and strengthened academic outcomes.

School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education

Dr Andrea Andiloro, Ms Laura Crawford and Dr Jacqueline Moran are presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Steven Conway, David Harris, Dr Andrea Andiloro, Dr Jacqueline Moran and Laura Crawford were recognised for their work in motivating, influencing and inspiring students through industry-engaged curricula design in games and interactivity degrees.

The team’s pedagogy is made up of authentic collaboration, industry-relevant tools and industry showcases to create future-ready learners and empower students to become proactive, responsible and professional game developers.

Through creating an environment that fosters resilience, collaboration and motivation, the team have received consistent positive feedback from students, alongside strong graduate outcomes and high engagement at public exhibitions.

School of Engineering

Mohammad Oditallah, Dr Md Morshed Alam and Dr Amanda Huang are presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Md Morshed Alam, Mohammad Oditallah and Dr Amanda Huang have been recognised for fostering innovation and a career-driven curriculum to develop future leaders in digital construction management.

Dr Amanda Huang is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Amanda Huang, Lecturer in Construction Management, was also recognised for fostering industry-ready construction management professionals and transformed curriculum through student-centred and real-world project-based learning.

Sujan Khadka, Jimmy Thomas, Professor Suresh Palanisamy, Dr Rizwan Abdul Rahman Rashid and Shuo Wang are presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award Commendation.

Professor Suresh Palanisamy, Dr Rizwan Abdul Rahman Rashid, Associate Professor Hailing Zhou, Dr Novana Hutasoit, Dr Krishnamurthy Prasad, Sujan Khadka, Shuo Wang and Jimmy Thomas have been commended for taking an innovative team-teaching approach in advanced manufacturing engineering. Their approach integrates industry engagement and emerging technologies to enhance student learning for real-world readiness.

Dr Mariadas Roshan is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Sessional Award.

Dr Mariadas Roshan, Research Fellow in Collaborative Robotics, has been recognised for innovative leadership, transforming robotics education through authentic project-based learning that enhances engagement, skills development and student experience in manufacturing engineering.

Sriskanthan Srisangeerthanan is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Sessional Award.

Sriskanthan Srisangeerthanan has been awarded for using engaging and responsive teaching practices in structural engineering. These practices fostered deep understanding through clear explanations, timely support and passionate delivery of complex design concepts and problem-solving methods.

School of Design and Architecture

Dr Emma Fisher is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Emma Fisher, Lecturer in Communication Design, has been recognised for developing a multidisciplinary model for coursework internships that expands work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for design students, builds their confidence and increases their employability.

Over the past four years, Dr Fisher has introduced improvements that align coursework with industry standards and secured real client projects, that created employment pathways for students.

School of Health Sciences

Dr Jessica Williams is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Catalyst Award.

Dr Jessica Williams, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, has been regonised for introducing a critical-relational approach that engages physiotherapy students with leading-edge technologies, supporting professional identity formation, placement learning and digital capabilities.

Dr Sarah Barradell is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Sarah Barradell, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, has been recognised for excellence in research-led curriculum design, teaching and evaluation that enhances physiotherapy students’ readiness for practice through scholarly, evidence-informed educational innovation.

Dr Kathleen Shorter is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Catalyst Award.

Dr Kathleen Shorter, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics, has been awarded for conceptualising authentic, industry-aligned assessments within the field of biomechanics by applying adaptive expertise and embracing digital innovation to enhance learning.

School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies

Dr Nicole Ronald is presented with a School Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Nicole Ronald, Lecturer in Computer Science and Software Engineering, has supported students and teaching staff in Agile processes. Since 2022, the School’s staff and students have meaningfully engaged with Agile methodologies through industry-level games, tailored Agile ceremonies and collaborative teaching strategies. Dr Ronald’s work has improved curriculum design, supported staff and student development, and received consistent positive feedback.

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